And this is the place to be. Ocean State Tackle is staying open all day and all night long. The shop is normally open seven days from 5am to 9pm, but they will not be closing up tonight. From the Facebook page,
Trout fishing Opening Day is spring ritual, RI opening day of trout season pits 20,000 trout fishermen against 80,000 trout that are stocked by the RI DEM. This year’s opening day is April 11th 2015, RI opening day of trout season is always the second Saturday of April.
Ocean State Tackle will be open through all night on Friday the 10th of April 2015.
Owner Dave Henault (seen here back to camera, black jacket) was busy making a sale to a customer who was overheard joking “I woke up feeling bi-polar this morning.” I suspect that is an old joke in fishing circles, but new to me.
The shop has trout bait and anything else you may need, but does not sell licenses. This seems to be all online at this point. Go to the DEM website to purchase and print your own. Residents pay $18 for a one-year freshwater fishing license (list of designated trout waters go here).
The lovely — and unbelievably serene — yellow lab in the picture below is Sukha, which is Sanskrit for “happiness.” Both Henault and Sukha identify as Tibetan Buddhists, hence the serenity which is frankly not the hallmark of other labs I have known (you know who you are). Observant customers will notice little Buddhas tucked about the shop, but there is a lot to look at here. Henault is friendly and gregarious and seems to be in a pretty good place himself. This looks like fun. I wish I fished.
Ocean State Tackle, 430 Branch Avenue, 401.331.BAIT
